ABSTRACT
Much of what we will discuss involves feelings of control. This is not the same as control theory in sociology. That theory holds the view that people refrain from deviant behavior because diverse factors control their impulses to break social norms (Hirschi, 1969). What applies here is the personal feeling of being in control of one’s life and trying to maintain, or regain, such a feeling after suffering a traumatic event. In helping someone to regain a feeling of personal control, the most common theory used is reality therapy, also called choice therapy. Choice therapy can be a key technique to use in the aftermath of sudden loss. When one feels life spinning “out of control,” this technique helps the client to regain perspective and to see that, even after a traumatic event, each person still has choices that can be made.
